The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has added to its art collection a towering sculpture by famed artist Viola Frey.
An amazing work by a pioneering giant in the ceramics and contemporary craft field, Thinking Woman — a permanent collection gift and semi-permanent installation — is 1,600 pounds and assembled from 16 pieces, according to Brian Young, Windgate Center for Art + Design gallery director. A gift of Dr. Kirby and Priscilla Smith, of Memphis, the ceramics piece from 1993 welcomed students to the Windgate Center as the new school year began last month, and it “reinforces an area of emphasis we teach,” contemporary craft, including ceramics.
Frey — the recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts fellowships and the Award of Honor in Sculpture from the San Francisco Arts Commission, among many other recognitions — was one of several California artists working in clay in the 1950s and 60s who turned away from that medium’s conventions to produce works with robust sculptural qualities associated with Abstract Expressionist painting, Pop art, and what would become known as California Funk, according to the Artists’ Legacy Foundation, of which Frey was a co-founder. She taught at California College of Arts and Crafts (now CCA) for over three decades, influencing generations of young artists and formalizing the use of clay as an artistic medium, prior to her 2004 death at age 70.
Frey and artists of her ilk didn’t want to abandon the figure for complete abstraction, but they also felt ceramics didn’t have to be only utilitarian, Young said. “I love the idea of clay in a non-utilitarian way — the glazes and colors look imperfect on purpose” — imperfection is embraced.
Multiple layers of brightly colored glazes are crucial for Frey’s work.
“I want the figures to get as close to the viewer as possible,” Frey noted in an Artist Statement. “I don’t want them to crush or overwhelm, but I do want them to intrude.” Thinking Woman “has a real presence — she knocks you back a little bit — but it’s a quiet presence,” said Young. “She’s not looking at you — her eyes are closed — and she’s thinking,” à la The Thinker, by Auguste Rodin, “but still powerful.” Kirby Smith possessed the work for more than three decades, so he had a strong connection to the piece, and considered various museum venues.
“For 35 years, I had a satellite practice as a physician in Blytheville, so I am happy that Thinking Woman found a home in the state that I care so deeply for,” he said. “Her size shows there is no limit to the technical part of the medium of ceramics and the artist. Also, Thinking Woman is a great name for her.” Individuals are welcome to view Thinking Woman — as well as other art — at the Windgate Center, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, as well as 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends. The galleries are free and open to the public. This article was edited for length.
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Photo caption:
Thinking Woman — a permanent collection gift and semi-permanent installation — now greets visitors to the Windgate Center for Art + Design on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.